Firearm shield



G. C. YOUNG FIREARM SHIELD Sept. 17, 1940.

Filed Oct. 26, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 GENERAL QYOUNG Z'Snnentor Sept. 17, 1940.

G. C. YOUNG FIREARM SHIELD Filed Oct. 26, 1939 2 ShGBtS-ShQQ'L 2 GENERAL C. YOUNG Snventor (Ittomeg Patented Sept. 17, 1940 UNIT FIREARM SHIELD Application October 26, 1939, Serial No. 301,457

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a rifle shield and more especially to-a device which is adapted to be used in association with firearms for the protection of the user. It is a well known fact that soldiers, policemen and other users of firearms often need a shield for their protection and for the protection of the ammunition while using the firearm in standing or in prone positions. This type of device is especially needful where repeating firearms such as sub-machine guns are used. Such a device should be of such size, shape and weight as to not interfere with the normal operation of the firearm or to interfere with the carrying of the same when not in use.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a concave-convex shield which has means associated therewith for detachably securing the same to the intermediate portion of a firearm said shield having its convex surface disposed forwardly of the firearm so that the operator will be protected from projectiles hurled at him.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a shield of the class described to be used in conjunction with a firearm having a cartridge belt with a groove disposed in the concave side of the shield whereby the cartridges will also be protected as the belt is advanced during the operation of the firearm.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide the above described combination together with a downwardly projecting handle in the concave side of the shield so that one hand of the operator can support the shield and the attached firearm while using the same.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is an elevation of a repeating rifle such as a sub-machine gun showing my improved shield associated therewith;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through the shield showing the same attached to the central portion of the rifle;

Figure 3 is a view taken along the line 3-3 in Figure 2, looking into the concave side of the shield and showing the outline of the rifle in dotted lines;

Figure 4 is a sectional plan view taken along the line 4-4! in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an isometric View looking into the concave side of my improved shield, said shield being detached from the firearm.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the numeral Hl denotes a firearm such as a submachine gun, which has a muzzle l l, firing chamber l2, and a stock 4. A cartridge belt l5 having a plurality of cartridges l6 secured therein, is adapted to be advanced step-by-step through the firing chamber l2 by a conventional mechanism, which is not shown, so that the cartridges can be successively fired.

In order to provide a protection and a guide for this cartridge belt as well as for the user who is operating the rifle, a suitable concavo-convex shield it has been provided. The shield is secured to the intermediate portion of the rifle by any suitable means such as thumb bolts 59,- I

said bolts being adapted to penetrate the upper portion of the shield in the manner shown in Figures 1 and 2, and be threadably secured into the intermediate lower portion of the rifle Ill. It will be noted that this shield is positioned so that the convex surface projects forwardly of the rifle so as to laterally deflect any projectiles which may be hurled towards it.

At a point where the shield is secured to the intermediate portion of the rifle, a suitable longitudinal channel 28 is provided. The bottom of this channel fits against the lower side of the rifle and its sidewalls fit against the opposed sides thereof, so that the shield can be rigidly fastened to the rifle by means of the thumb screws 19 previously described.

The lower portion of the part having the channel Ell therein has a handle 2i integral therewith and extending downwardly therefrom into the concave portion of the shield so that one hand of the operator may grasp the same and hold the shield. and the attached firearm in position against his shoulder while it is in operation. When the firearm and the shield are being used with the operator in a prone position, a base portion 53a which is integral with the lower edge of the firearm, is adapted to rest upon the ground or some other suitable object.

In order that the cartridge belt l5 and the cartridges it may be protected, a suitable annular member 25 is provided in the concave portion of the shield 98. This member is so secured into the concave portion of the shield that an annular groove 25 is provided into which the pointed ends of the cartridges are adapted to project. The periphery of the annular member 26, however, serves as a support for the cartridge belt as it advances, stepby step, through the firing chamber of the rifle. Suitable slots 28 are out in member M, so as to reduce the weight of the shield to a minimum without affecting its protective qualities. It is therefore seen that any projectiles which are hurled towards the convex side of the shield will be diverted laterally to prevent injury or harm. to the operator and to the cartridges and cartridge belt.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A shield for a firearm adapted to be used in conjunction with a cartridge belt, said shield comprising a hollow member which is substantially elliptically shaped in transverse section, and substantially parabolically shaped in longitudinal section, means for detachably securing the upper portion of said shield to the lower intermediate portion of the firearm, and a substantially elliptically disposed member within said hollow portion on which a cartridge belt travels during operation of the firearm.

2. In a machine gun having a cartridge belt,

means for supporting the cartridge belt and shielding the cartridge belt and the operator of the gun, comprising bullet-nosed hollow member supported by the gun and having a cavity opening rearwardly of the gun, a substantially annular member disposed in spaced relation to the interior surface of the hollow member and providing a substantially annular trackway for supporting the cartridge belt.

3; In a machine gun having a cartridge belt, means for supporting the cartridge belt and shielding the cartridge belt and the operator of the gun, comprising bullet-nosed hollow member supported by the gun and having a cavity opening rearwardly of the gun, a substantially annular member disposed in spaced relation to the interior surface of the hollow member and providing a substantially annular trackway for supporting the cartridge belt, and a handle member disposed within the hollow member whereby the hand'of an operator may support the gun and the hollow member from a protected point within the hollow member.

GENERAL C. YOUNG. 

